Color coding

[Isaiah]

Is it a Code requirement to identify 480V three phase wiring as BROWN ORANGE AND YELLOW? or is this simply an industry common practice ?


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[tom baker]

No code requirement, unless there is more than one voltage system. Then each system must be identified by phase and line, identification must be posted. Some colors are restricted, white, gray, green. Best to read code sections on this issue

 

[Isaiah]

No code requirement, unless there is more than one voltage system. Then each system must be identified by phase and line, identification must be posted. Some colors are restricted, white, gray, green. Best to read code sections on this issue

This box has both 24VDC and 480VAC


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[jim dungar]

No code requirement, unless there is more than one voltage system. Then each system must be identified by phase and line, identification must be posted. Some colors are restricted, white, gray, green. Best to read code sections on this issue

But the use of the colors Brown, Orange, and Yellow is an area/industry practice which while common is not universal.

 

[zbang]

If it's covered by UL 508 for panels, that has some color codes, but the for the most part NEC does not; there is an identity requirement but that could be labels, doesn't have to be colored tape. Nor AFAIK does the NEC* require identifying the separate phase conductors; you could color 480v all pink if you wanted.

*Tom- with a quick look I didn't see that in 210 or 215 (of the 2017 code), did I miss it?

 

[tom baker]

24 vdc is blue hot and wht/ blu stripe for common.
Is the 24 vdc a class 1 ckt, functionally related?
Even if class 2 and 600v can’t be in same box as power see 300.3 (c)

 

[tom baker]

If it's covered by UL 508 for panels, that has some color codes, but the for the most part NEC does not; there is an identity requirement but that could be labels, doesn't have to be colored tape. Nor AFAIK does the NEC* require identifying the separate phase conductors; you could color 480v all pink if you wanted.

*Tom- with a quick look I didn't see that in 210 or 215 (of the 2017 code), did I miss it?

Identification for branch circuits is section 210.5, and it specifically calls out for phase or line, and by system voltage class.

 

[zbang]

(working with the 2017 code)
Art 210.5 only applies when there are multiple supply voltages (or DC) supplying branch circuits. It doesn't apply to feeders although there's similar language in 215.12. If the prem. only has a single voltage, they wouldn't apply; nor if all branch circuits (or feeders) are a single voltage (e.g. all branches are 208/120 and all feeders are 480/277).

That said, I'd call it good practice to ID each phase individually anyway; the likelihood of an installation falling through the crack above has got to be quite small.

 

[tom baker]

yes correct only if more than one nominal voltage system as I mentioned. and agreed that coloring coding is a good practice and looks nice,
But often what gets installed is what is on the truck

 

[LarryFine]

Is it a Code requirement to identify 480V three phase wiring as BROWN ORANGE AND YELLOW? or is this simply an industry common practice ?

 

[Isaiah]

View attachment 2564417

Agreed. but I can’t enforce a tradition


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[chris kennedy]

I stopped using orange years ago when 110.18 (guessing here) required orange for the high leg of a 240V delta system.
Now use brown,purple and yellow.

 

[roger]

BOY with a stripe is required for 517.160.

 

[hillbilly1]

I stopped using orange years ago when 110.18 (guessing here) required orange for the high leg of a 240V delta system.
Now use brown,purple and yellow.

That was the colors used many years ago, but was changed to BOY because brown and purple is hard to distinguish in low light. I use YBP if a delta system is present, but have been turned down by an inspector because he “Had never seen that before” I could not convince him that I could not use orange for the 480.